Jerry Markbreit's answers

In the Bears-Redskins game there was a play where two penalties were
calledoffensive holding and defensive pass interference. The penalties offset and the down was replayed. Why would they offset? If the offense didn't hold in the first place, the pass may not have been thrown because of a sack. The interference penalty was only possible because of the holding penalty. I would think it would be nullified. --Dave Dahl, Des Plaines, Ill.

Whenever a foul is committed by both teams with no change of team possession during that play, the penalties will offset according to NFL rules.

The exception to this rule is when one team commits a five-yard penalty and another team commits a 15-yard penalty during a play in which there is no change in team possession. In this case, the five-yard penalty is declined by rule and the 15-yard penalty is enforced.

Questioning the rules of offsetting penalties can produce many scenarios, such as the one you present. Rules are set up and followed in the best interest of the game. They don't always seem equitable but they're pretty darn good and very fair.

The chain gang is a very important part of the game and hardly ever gets noticed. Each team seems to have a permanent crew. How many are on the crew and how are they selected? --Warren Massia, Natchitoches, La.

I agree that the chain crew is very, very important to the game offootball at every level. In the NFL, the chain crew is made up of eightpeople, usually local officials. They are assigned by the home footballteam. It is an honored position in the community. Speaking as a retired NFL football referee, a good chain crew is worth their weight in gold.

There are four men on each side of the field. The head linesman has the official chains and down marker, plus, a person who keeps the foul card for the officials. The auxiliary chain crew is on the opposite side of the field.

They mimic the other chain crew so that the officials can look to either side of the field to know the status of the line to gain. The fourth man on the auxiliary side is in charge of the drive start flag, which is an arrow placed at the beginning of the team's drive and stays in place until they lose possession. This serves a very important statistical purpose with regard to number of plays and distance for each offensive drive.

How much time does a coach have to challenge a play? I believe that a PAT should not be counted as a play when it comes to challenging the previous play. For example, in the game between the Vikings and Eagles, Terrell Owens caught a touchdown pass that could have gone either way. Mike Tice later said that he would've challenged the play if he had time to see a replay. Also, do the referees have any influence on changing current rules? -Mike Chereskin, Darien, Ill.

The coach must challenge a play before the ball is snapped for thenext play. The PAT is considered a play under all rules of football. So the Vikings would have had to challenge before the snap on the try for point. It is the responsibility of the coach to make his decision quickly. With regard to rules changes, the officials may submit suggestions to the league office for consideration. Over the years a number of rules have been changed because of these suggestions.

I was watching the game between St. Louis and Tampa Bay and on a field goal attempt, the ball went directly over one upright. It was tough to tell whether or not the ball actually went through the uprights. Wouldn't it make sense for the NFL to extend the goal posts upward, so there is absolutely no question about a field goal going through? --Steve, Glenolden, Pa.

In order to score a successful field goal, the entire ball mustpass through the goal. In case wind or other forces cause the ball toreturn through the goal, it must have struck the ground or some object or person before returning. Passing through the goal means above the crossbar, which is 10 feet above the ground and completely between the uprights, which are 30 feet above the crossbar. It would be impossible to extend the length of the uprights to service all kicks for obvious reasons. In the NFL, the field judge and back judge are under each upright and have a perfect view of the kick as it passes through the goal.

Is there a rule that prohibits referees and their relatives from betting on the games they are officiating? --Nick Mason, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Under NFL rules, gambling of any kind on any sport is prohibitedfor all officials and their families. Violation of this rule would begrounds for dismissal.

It seems to me that this year has been plagued with incorrect calls on pass interference once the replay is shown in slow motion. It appears some defenders are almost blanketing a receiver and no call is made, while other times the slightest contact draws a flag. Is this rule just too hard to enforce? --John, Alexis, Ill.

There are many different types of defensive pass interference.

1. Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the opportunity to make the catch.

2. Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.

3. Grabbing a receiver's arm or arms in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.

4. Extending an arm across the body of a receiver, thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the defender is playing the ball.

5. Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.

6. Hooking a receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the receiver's body to turn prior to the ball arriving.

All of these situations happen at split-second speed, and are not officiated in slow motion. You are incorrect in assuming that there have been a great number of incorrect calls. The percentage of accuracy for NFL officials during the 2003 season was 97 percent.

Apparently 15 yards is not enough to deter the selfish players from all the taunting and premeditated acts of showboating to get on ESPN. Since these acts happen after the play is already over, what do you think of fining the players? Also, what do you think of an escalating fine? --Pablo, Fremont, Calif.

The NFL has a system which not only penalizes taunting fouls butalso fines the fouler. I don't know the magnitude of the fines but I know that they escalate as the number of incidents by the same player occurs.